Page 6 - Iraq

Iraqi PM says nearly $2.5 bn embezzled from tax authority recovered

Iraq's government said on Sunday it will recover part of nearly USD 2.5 billion in funds embezzled from the country's tax authority in a massive scheme involving a network of businesses and officials. Approximately 182 billion Iraqi dinars, or USD 125 million, of the stolen sum will be recovered through the seizure of properties and assets belonging to a well-connected businessman complicit in the corruption scheme, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office said in a statement. The amount retrieved was disbursed to Noor Zuhair Jassim, a businessman who was arrested in connection to the scheme along with officials from the government tax authority for withdrawing funds from a tax deposit account between September 2021 to August 2022. Al-Sudani stressed the ongoing investigation would not spare anyone involved in the scheme, and the government is working to recover the full amount stolen. Jassim confessed to holding the embezzled sum, the statement added. Al-Sudani also said th

As Russia becomes India's premier oil supplier, Saudi is not losing sleep

Despite losing its place to Russia in India, the world's third biggest oil importer, the kingdom is confident it holds the cards for crude supplies in the long term

Iranian Ambassador denies military deployment toward Iraqi borders

The Iranian Ambassador to Iraq has denied any Iranian military deployment toward Iraqi borders, the IRIB news agency reported

Turkey launches airstrikes in Syria, Iraq a week after Istanbul bombing

Turkey launched airstrikes over northern regions of Syria and Iraq, the Turkish Defence Ministry said o Sunday, targeting Kurdish groups that Ankara holds responsible for last week's bomb attack in Istanbul. Warplanes attacked bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and the Syrian People's Protection Units, or YPG, the ministry said in a statement, which was accompanied by images of F-16 jets taking off and footage of a strike from an aerial drone. There was no immediate comment from either group. The ministry cited Turkey's right to self defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter in launching an operation it called Claw-Sword late on Saturday. It said it was targeting areas used as a base by terrorists in their attacks on our country. Turkey said it was seeking to prevent attacks, secure its southern border and destroy terrorism at its source. The airstrikes came after a bomb rocked a bustling avenue in the heart of Istanbul on November 13, killing six

Turkey launches airstrikes in Syria, Iraq a week after Istanbul bombing

Turkey launched airstrikes over northern regions of Syria and Iraq, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Sunday, targeting Kurdish groups that Ankara holds responsible for last week's bomb attack in Istanbul. Warplanes attacked bases of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and the Syrian People's Protection Units, or YPG, the ministry said in a statement, which was accompanied by images of F-16 jets taking off and footage of a strike from an aerial drone. There was no immediate comment from either group. The ministry cited Turkey's right to self defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter in launching an operation it called Claw-Sword late on Saturday night. It said it was targeting areas used as a base by terrorists in their attacks on our country. Turkey said it was seeking to prevent attacks, secure its southern border and destroy terrorism at its source. The airstrikes came after a bomb rocked a bustling avenue in the heart of Istanbul on November 13, kil

Fire and building collapse injures more than 20 people in Baghdad

More than two dozen people were injured, including the head of Iraq's civil defence directorate, when a commercial building in the capital caught fire and then collapsed Sunday, authorities and the state news agency reported. The official Iraqi News Agency said the civil defence director, Maj. Gen. Kadhim Bohan, and some firefighters were were among those injured when the burning building collapsed. No deaths were reported. No information was immediately available on the cause of the blaze. Brig. Gen. Qusai Younis, director of civil defense for the Al-Rusafa district of Baghdad, told The Associated Press that at least 28 people had been injured. He said two of the three stories in the building, which contained warehouses storing flammable materials such as perfume, collapsed due to the fire. The civil defense announced late Sunday evening that the fire had been fully extinguished and first responders were searching for missing people at the scene. On Oct. 29, a gas tanker explode

Iraq exports over 100 mn oil barrels in Oct, rakes in $9.25 bn in revenue

The average price for Iraqi crude oil in October was 88.31 dollars per barrel, the Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, citing statistics from the State Organisation for Marketing of Oil.

No tolerance for 'armed terrorists' in Iraq's Kurdistan region: Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said Tehran will not tolerate the continued presence of "armed terrorists" in Iraq's Kurdistan region

India lose 2-4 to Iraq in opening AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifying fixture

The Indian football team went down 2-4 against Iraq in its opening fixture of the AFC U-20 Championship Group H qualifiers here. The first goal of the match came as early as in the second minute on Friday, as Iraq scored through Abdulrazzaq Qasim's curling effort with the outside of his boot. India looked to respond immediately, as both Gurkirat Singh and Taison Singh created danger repeatedly for the rival defence within a span of few minutes but were brought down with fouls. The pressure paid off in the 22nd minute eventually as Gurkirat scored with a timely shot, after Vibin Mohanan played in Taison, who laid it on a plate for the forward. Gurkirat turned from scorer to provider in the 33rd minute as he essayed a fine through pass, with Maheson Singh applying the finishing touch with a dink over the goalkeeper. The Indians went into the breather with the lead, with Zahid Bukhari denying efforts from Ashar Ali and Abbood Rabah, and Amandeep stopping Hayder Tofee in his tracks wi

Iraqi Parliament elects Abdul Latif Rashid as country's new President

Iraqi lawmakers have elected Abdul Latif Rashid as the new President of Iraq, marking a crucial step toward forming a new government for the country, the parliament said

Iraq's regional Kurdistan parliament extends legislative term for 1 year

The lawmakers of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region have voted to extend the current four-year legislative term of the regional parliament for one more year

Iraq's forex reserves hit record high, cross $87 bn, as oil prices soar

Iraq's foreign exchange reserves have surpassed $87 billion, the highest level the central bank has seen since its establishment in 1947, local media reported.

India reaches out to US, Iraq for LNG after Gazprom reduces supply: Report

The decision comes as LNG supplies from Russia's Gazprom have been declining since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war

133 injured in protests as Iraq's Parliament reconvenes after two months

At least 122 security members and 11 protesters were injured in clashes as the Iraqi Parliament reconvened after nearly two months of suspension amid a political deadlock

Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon discuss means to boost food security

The Agriculture Ministers of Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon convened in Amman to discuss means to boost food security.

Iraqi soldier, 2 Islamic State militants killed in clashes near Baghdad

A soldier and two Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in clashes north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the Iraqi military said

Iran holds military parade to mark 42nd anniversary of 8-year war with Iraq

Iranian armed forces held a military parade to mark the 42nd anniversary of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war beginning in 1980

11 IS militants killed in airstrikes in western and eastern Iraq

Eleven Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Saturday in airstrikes in western and eastern Iraq, the Iraqi military said

5 IS militants, including 2 leaders, killed in northern Iraq operation

A total of five Islamic State (IS) militants, including two local leaders, were killed in an operation to track down IS militants in northern Iraq, the Iraqi military said

Iraq leads with discounts as W Asia retains top slot in Indian oil market

Iraq, India's biggest crude oil supplier, maintained its lead over Russia in August, supplying 12-20 per cent more to India in the first 30 days of the month